As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 in Mexico City and concludes July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, University of Michigan experts are available to comment.
The event marks the tournament's first return to North America since 1994. It will be the first World Cup hosted by three countries—the United States, Mexico and Canada—and will feature a record 48 teams.
Ford School Professor Javed Ali commented on the unprecedented security measures being taken.
"Amidst the backdrop of a heightened threat environment due to numerous acts of political violence in the United States and the conflicts overseas in the Middle East, security and law enforcement professionals have been developing and refining plans to keep the upcoming FIFA World Cup games across North America safe and secure for fans and athletes alike," Ali said. "A whole host of scenarios have almost certainly been contemplated, from terrorist attacks to cyber operations to civil unrest or even large-scale fights between fans of opposing teams at different venues. Of all these different concerns, identifying and preventing attacks from lone offenders will probably be the most challenging."
